Steven Spielberg’s E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial back in 1982 was released at a time when the movie’s concept itself was quite alien to audiences. The idea itself originated form the kind of imaginary friends Steven Spielberg once had as a child, and became one of his classic works that resulted in earnings of almost $800 million off a budget of just over $10 million.
The movie itself saw E.T., an alien being, enlist the help of a 12-year-old boy named Elliott, who alongside his family helps him return to his home. A stirring watch, to say the least, E.T. starred a certain child actor named Drew Barrymore, who was destined to enjoy a stellar career as an adult in the industry as well.
While the actress herself, along with millions of fans around the world, have wondered about a potential sequel, it seems as if Steven Spielberg himself is not interested in making one, ever. The reason is quite simple, and makes perfect sense for both the actors and the fans of the cult classic.
Drew Barrymore revealed how Steven Spielberg is just not interested in making a sequel to E.T.
Spielberg’s utterly impressive career is littered with a plethora of superhits. From Jaws to E.T. to Jurassic Park and the Indiana Jones series, the director has created a range of franchises that have become extraordinary hits. While the 1982 movie is firmly one of the projects that rank here, Spielberg does not wish to make a franchise out of E.T.
The reason, according to Drew Barrymore’s appearance on Watch What Happens Live on Andy Cohen, is simply because he believes E.T. is best left alone:
In their early eighties there was not always a lot of talk of sequels and because Steven Spielberg made Jaws etc… There was a lot of talk within his camp about sequels, but he never wanted to make them because he felt like what he did was just as it should be.
I remember being seven and staying at his house for the weekend, he was a godfather to me, right? He said, ‘No, we’re never gonna make a sequel, it’s just as it is’, and that was his philosophy, so who was I to ever question it?
Hence, the director simply thought that the movie worked best as a standalone, and a potential sequel was simply not going to add to the overall narrative.
While since this time, Spielberg’s approach may have changed in the sense that he is more willing to work on sequels, it seems as if that simply does not apply to this alien flick.
Drew Barrymore once asked Steven Spielberg to become her father
Barrymore’s introduction to the industry happened via Altered State way back in 1980. E.T. was not only the second movie of her career, the actress also got who she described as the only ‘parent figure’ in her life. Barrymore herself came from an unsettled family and her father, John Barrymore, expired in 2004.
According to LA Times, a seven-year-old Barrymore once asked Steven Spielberg to be her father, which left him dumbfounded, but he eventually responded with a ‘no.’ However, she then wanted to make him her godfather, something he just had to agree with. The director’s patient and loving approach toward the then-child actress led to the heartwarming question:
The only person in my life to this day that ever was a parental figure… He’s a nice director, that’s for sure. It’s not funner with other directors, Steven’s much more nicer, like a million nicers.
Considering the kind of relationship that the two shared, there is no doubt that Barrymore still looks to Spielberg for guidance, and shares a special relationship with the extraordinary director.
E.T. is currently available on multiple streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime.
